Fastening device for badges



Dec. 20, 1938. w E G N 2,140,795

v FASTENING DEVICE FOR BADGES Filed April 6, 1938 INVENTOR MLLIAM F FERGUSON Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,140,795 FASTENING DEVICE FOR. BADGES William F. Ferguson, Yonkers, N. Y.

Application April 6, 1938, Serial No. 200,319

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fastening devices for badges and the like and particularly to devices for fastening a policemans badge on his coat.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that will positively hold the badge on the coat.

Another object is to provide such a device that permits ready attachment and detachment of the badge on the coat.

Still another object is to provide such a fastening device that is simple in construction and economic to manufacture.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description thereof to follow taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a rear view of a badge with one form of the invention mounted in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a side view of the badge and improved fastening device in position on a coat.

Figure 3 is a front view of the improved form of fastening device shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the arrange- 5 ment of latch members and coil spring.

Figure 5 is a front view of another modified form of improved fastening device.

Referring to the drawing, a policemans metal badge III of ordinary construction is illustrated.

0 The rear of this badge is provided as shown with a perforated ear or lug I I at the top and bottom. These lugs extend through spaced openings in a policemans coat I2 to the rear of the coat as shown in Fig. 2. The regulation or standard coat of a policeman is formed with these spaced openings.

The improved fastening device' comprises a tubular metal casing or housing I3. Slidably mounted in this housing is a latch member or bolt I4 having one end I5 protruding outwardly from one end of the housing. A finger piece I6 is formed on the bolt I4 adjacent its inner end and protrudes outwardly through an opening or slot II in the casing I3. A similar latch or bolt I8 is enclosed in the housing I3 but spaced from the first latch I4. This latch I8 has'one end I9 protruding from the opposite end of the housing I3 and is also provided with a finger piece 20 protruding through the slot II.

A coil spring 2| is positioned between the bolts I4 and I8 with one end surrounding the inner end of bolt I4 and seated against the finger piece I6 and its other end surrounding the inner end of bolt I8 and seated against the finger piece 20. This sprin 2| normally presses the bolts I4 and I8 away from each other and presses the protruding ends l5 and I9, respectively, outwardly of the housing I3.

In use, the badge I0 is placed on the coat so that its perforated lugs I'I extend through the 5 slits in the coat I2 to the rear surface thereof. The fastening device is then positioned between the lugs so that the protruding ends of the bolts I4 and I8 are in line with the openings in the lugs. This can readily be accomplished by grasp- 10 ing the finger pieces I6 and 20 and pressing them toward each other against the action of spring 2| so that the protruding ends I5 and I8 willbe retracted toward the housing I3 and the overall length of the device shortened as will be un- 15 derstood, sufficiently to position it between the lugs. The finger pieces I6 and 20 are then released and the spring 2| will press the bolts I4 and I8 with their protruding ends I5 and I9, respectively, outwardly so that said protruding 20 ends will extend through the openings in the lugs II and thus fasten or look the badge on the coat. In order to remove the badge, it is only necessary to grasp the finger pieces I 6 and 20 and press them toward each other until the 5 protruding ends I5 and I9 are free of the lugs II when the device can be displaced and the badge removed from the coat.

In Figure 5 a slightly modified form of the invention isshown and consists of a housing 22 0 similar to the housing I3 of Fig. 1. In this form, the housing is provided with a protruding bolt or pin 23 which is fastened in the housing in any suitable manner, in one end thereof. A latch or bolt 24 is slidably mounted in the housing at the 35 other end thereof and has one end 25 protruding from said end. A finger piece 26 is provided for the bolt 24 and protrudes through an opening or slot 21 in the housing. A coil spring 28 is positioned in the housing and has one end sur- 40 rounding the inner end of bolt 24 and seated against the finger piece 26 and its other end is seated against the inner end of fixed pin 23 or may be seated against any stationary part of the housing 22. A bayonet slot 28 may be provided in the housing 22 to hold the .finger piece 26 when it is in its innermost position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

In using the form of improved device shown in Fig. 5, the protruding pin 23 is first inserted 50 into one of the lugs II, preferably the lower one.

and the other protruding end 25 of bolt 24 is retracted by pressing down on the finger piece 26v against the action of spring 28 and the end 25 then positioned in line with the opening in 5 leased on the spring forcing said end 25 upwardly through the lug II to fasten the badge on the coat.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the principle or the invention.

I claim:

In combination with a badge having spaced perforated lugs, a tubular casing having an opening at one end and a central slot, a protruding pin fixed in one end of the casing and forming a prolongation of said end, a bolt member slidthe other or upper lug II when pressure is reably mounted in the opposite end of the casing and having one end adapted to protrude through the open end of the casing, a finger piece secured to said bolt and protruding externally of the casing through the central slot and a coil spring in the casing having one end seated against the inner end of the pin and its other end against the inner end of the slidable bolt, said central slot being formed with a notch for holding the finger piece in innermost position.

WILLIAM F. FERGUSON. 

